U.S. patent number 8,023,792 [Application Number 12/566,191] was granted by the patent office on 2011-09-20 for system for the distribution of optical fibers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to CCS Technology, Inc.. Invention is credited to Tomasz Ciechomski, Ian Cowser, Michal Wojda.
United States Patent |
8,023,792 |
Ciechomski , et al. |
September 20, 2011 |
System for the distribution of optical fibers
Abstract
A system for the distribution of optical fibers is disclosed.
The system has a first furcation area, which is associated with a
first fiber optic cable, to tap off a subset of the optical fibers
of the first fiber optic cable in the form of a tether cable. The
first fiber optic cable may be a riser cable. The tether cable is
supplied to a spool device to store any excess length of the tether
cable while complying with the minimum permissible bending radius
of the optical fibers. The system has a second furcation area,
which is associated with the spool device, to separate the optical
fibers of the tether cable. The separated optical fibers of the
tether cable can each be supplied to an individual splice storage
device in which, in each case, one spliced joint can be placed
between a separated optical fiber of the tether cable and an
optical fiber of a second fiber optic cable, which may be a drop
cable.
Inventors: |
Ciechomski; Tomasz (Lowicz,
PL), Wojda; Michal (Lodz, PL), Cowser;
Ian (Cypress Point, GB) |
Assignee: |
CCS Technology, Inc.
(Wilmington, DE)
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Family
ID: |
40427908 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/566,191 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100080524 A1 |
Apr 1, 2010 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 30, 2008 [EP] |
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08017162 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
385/135;
385/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
6/4441 (20130101); G02B 6/4475 (20130101); G02B
6/4466 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02B
6/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1944635 |
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Jul 2008 |
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EP |
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2001-116968 |
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Apr 2001 |
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JP |
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WO97/25642 |
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Jul 1997 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Wong; Tina
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Vynalek; John H.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for distributing optical fibers from a first fiber
optic cable, the system comprising: a spool device for storing
excess length of a tether cable comprising optical fibers tapped
off from the first fiber optic cable; a furcation area associated
with the spool device for separating the optical fibers of the
tether cable; a splice storage device for placing a splice joint
between an optical fiber separated from the tether cable at the
furcation area of the spool device and an optical fiber of a second
fiber optic cable, wherein the spool device has a cylindrical
housing comprising a housing upper part and a housing lower part,
wherein a cylindrical wall of the housing upper part and/or the
housing lower part has a first insertion area for the tether cable,
and an extension of the housing upper part and/or the housing lower
part, wherein the extension forms a storage area for a furcation
adapter which provides the furcation area.
2. An assembly for distributing optical fibers from a first fiber
optic cable, the system comprising: a wall box having a first
furcation adapter at which one or more optical fibers of a riser
cable are tapped off in a tether cable; a spool device positioned
in the wall box for storing excess length of a tether cable,
wherein the spool device has a cylindrical housing comprising a
housing upper part and a housing lower part, and wherein a
cylindrical wall of the housing upper part and/or the housing lower
part has an insertion area for the tether cable, and wherein the
spool device has a second furcation adapter for separating the
optical fibers of the tether cable; a splice storage device
positioned in the wall box for placing a splice joint between an
optical fiber separated from the tether cable and an optical fiber
of a drop cable, wherein the splice storage device has housing
comprising a housing upper part and a housing lower part, wherein
the housing upper part and/or the housing lower part has a first
insertion area for the tether cable and a second insertion area for
the drop cable.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical wall of the
spool device has an extension forming a storage area for the second
furcation adapter.
4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the extension is tangential to
the cylindrical wall.
5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first insertion area and
the second insertion area are formed at opposite ends of the splice
storage device.
6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first insertion area and
the second insertion area are formed at a same end of the splice
storage device.
7. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the splice storage device has a
splice storage area for a splice protection device for the splice
joint.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the splice storage area is
formed by two webs extending diagonally between two opposite ends
of the upper housing part.
9. A method for distributing optical fibers from a first fiber
optic cable, the method comprising the steps of: providing a wall
box having a first furcation adapter at which one or more optical
fibers of a riser cable introduced into the wall box are tapped off
in a tether cable; positioning a spool device in the wall box for
storing excess length of a tether cable, wherein the spool device
has a second furcation adapter for separating the optical fibers of
the tether cable; and positioning a splice storage device in the
wall box for placing a splice joint between an optical fiber
separated from the tether cable and an optical fiber of a drop
cable.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the spool device has a
cylindrical housing comprising a housing upper part and a housing
lower part, and wherein a cylindrical wall of the housing upper
part and/or the housing lower part has an insertion area for the
tether cable and an extension from the cylindrical wall forming a
storage area for the second furcation adapter.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the splice storage device has
housing comprising a housing upper part and a housing lower part,
wherein the housing upper part and/or the housing lower part has a
first insertion area for the tether cable and a second insertion
area for the drop cable, and wherein the housing has a splice
storage area for a splice protection device for the splice joint.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of
European Patent Application No. 08 017 162.2 filed Sep. 30, 2008,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Disclosure
The technology of the disclosure relates to a system for the
distribution of optical fibers, specifically optical fibers
furcated from a first fiber optic cable, in particular a riser
cable, to second fiber optic cables, in particular to drop
cables.
2. Technical Background
Particularly in the case of so-called FTTH (fiber to the home)
applications, it is necessary to furcate the optical fiber of a
first fiber optic cable which has a plurality of optical fibers to
connect to a plurality of drop cables, which each have a single
optical fiber. Systems such as these must have a simple design and
must be scalable as required in order, depending on the
requirement, to increase the number of the second fiber optic
cables, in particular the drop cables, whose optical fibers are
intended to be connected to the optical fibers in the first fiber
optic cable, in particular the riser cable. Until now, no systems
which meet these requirements have been known for distribution of
optical fibers.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, there is provided a system for distributing optical
fibers from a first fiber optic cable. The system comprises a spool
device for storing excess length of a tether cable comprising
optical fibers tapped off from the first fiber optic cable. A
furcation area is associated with the spool device for separating
the optical fibers of the tether cable. The system also comprises a
splice storage device for placing a splice joint between an optical
fiber separated from the tether cable at the furcation area of the
spool device and an optical fiber of a second fiber optic
cable.
In another aspect, there is provided an assembly for distributing
optical fibers from a first fiber optic cable. The assembly
comprises a wall box having a first furcation adapter at which one
or more optical fibers of a riser cable are tapped off in a tether
cable. A spool device is positioned in the wall box. The spool
device is for storing excess length of a tether cable. The spool
device has a cylindrical housing comprising a housing upper part
and a housing lower part. A cylindrical wall of the housing upper
part and/or the housing lower part has an insertion area for the
tether cable. The spool device has a second furcation adapter for
separating the optical fibers of the tether cable.
A splice storage device is also positioned in the wall box. The
splice storage device is for placing a splice joint between an
optical fiber separated from the tether cable and an optical fiber
of a drop cable. The splice storage device has housing comprising a
housing upper part and a housing lower part. The housing upper part
and/or the housing lower part has a first insertion area for the
tether cable and a second insertion area for the drop cable.
In another aspect, there is provided a method for distributing
optical fibers from a first fiber optic cable. The method
comprising providing a wall box having a first furcation adapter at
which one or more optical fibers of a riser cable introduced into
the wall box are tapped off in a tether cable. The method also
comprises positioning a spool device and a splice storage device in
the wall box. The spool device is for storing excess length of a
tether cable and has a second furcation adapter for separating the
optical fibers of the tether cable. A splice joint between an
optical fiber separated from the tether cable and an optical fiber
of a drop cable is placed in the splice storage device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a system according to an
embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an opened spool device in the
system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing lower part of the spool
device shown in FIG. 2 together with a tether cable, a second
furcation adapter and optical fibers;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an opened splice storage device in
the system as shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an housing upper part of the splice
storage device shown in FIG. 4 together with a splice protection
device and optical fibers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which some, but not all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the
disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments
set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that
this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.
Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to
like components or parts.
A system for the distribution of optical fibers has a first
furcation area, which is associated with the first fiber optic
cable, in order to tap off a subset of the optical fibers of the
first fiber optic cable in the form of a tether cable. The tether
cable is supplied to a spool device in order to store any excess
length of the tether cable while complying with the minimum
permissible bending radius of the optical fibers. The system has a
second furcation area, which is associated with the spool device,
in order to separate the optical fibers of the tether cable. The
separated optical fibers of the tether cable can each be supplied
to an individual splice storage device in which, in each case, one
spliced joint can be placed between a separated optical fiber of
the tether cable and an optical fiber of a second fiber optic
cable.
The tether cable tapped off from the first fiber optic cable can be
wound up on the spool device. The tether cable may be, in
particular, from the riser cable. In addition to the spool device,
the system has a plurality of splice storage devices, in which case
a spliced joint between a separated optical fiber in the tether
cable and the optical fiber in a second fiber optic cable, in
particular a drop cable, can in each case be placed in each splice
storage device. A separate splice storage device is provided for
every second fiber optic cable, in order to connect the optical
fiber of the respective second fiber optic cable to an optical
fiber of the tether cable, with the optical fibers of the tether
cable being separated in the second furcation area. The system is
distinguished by a simple design and, furthermore, can be scaled as
required.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a system for distribution
of optical fibers, specifically for furcation of optical fibers of
a first fiber optic cable, which comprises a plurality of optical
fibers, to a plurality of second fiber optic cables, which each
comprise a single optical fiber. The first fiber optic cable, which
comprises the plurality of optical fibers, is referred to in the
following text as a riser cable 10. The second fiber optic cables,
which each comprise a single optical fiber, are referred to in the
following text as drop cables 11.
In the system, as illustrated in FIG. 1, for distribution of
optical fibers, the riser cable 10 has an associated first
furcation area in the form of a first furcation adapter 12, in
which case a plurality of optical fibers of the riser cable 10 can
be tapped off from the riser cable 10 in the form of a tether cable
13, with the aid of the first furcation adapter 12. Like the riser
cable 10, the tether cable 13 has a multiplicity of optical fibers,
with the tether cable 13 comprising a subset of the optical fibers
in the riser cable 10.
Any type of furcation adapter 12 can be used to tap off a plurality
of optical fibers of the riser cable 10 in order to provide the
tether cable 13.
The tether cable 13 can be supplied to a spool device 14, in which
case any excess length of the tether cable 13 is stored in the
spool device 14, while complying with the minimum permissible
bending radius of the optical fibers in the tether cable 13. The
spool device 14 is associated with a second furcation area in the
form of a second furcation adapter 15, in order to separate the
optical fibers in the tether cable 13.
Any type of furcation adapter 15 can be used to separate the
optical fibers in the tether cable 13.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, individual optical fibers 16 of the
tether cable 13, which are preferably surrounded by small tubes,
are passed out of the spool device 14, starting from the second
furcation adapter 15, and are passed to splice storage devices 17,
in which case a single spliced joint between a single optical fiber
16 in the tether cable 13 and the optical fiber in a drop cable 11
can be placed in each splice storage device 17.
The system for distribution of optical fibers accordingly has a
single spool device 14 and a plurality of splice storage devices 17
for each tether cable 13 which is tapped off from the riser cable
10, with the number of splice storage devices 17 corresponding to
the number of drop cables 11 whose optical fibers have to be
connected to the optical fibers 16 in the tether cable 13.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the riser cable 10
runs in a cable duct 18, with the spool device 14 and the splice
storage devices 17 being positioned in a wall box 19 which is
adjacent to the cable duct 18. The riser cable 10 is introduced
into the wall box 19, and passed out of it, via the cable duct 18.
The drop cables 11 are inserted directly into the wall box 19.
FIG. 2 shows the spool device 14 in detail in the unfolded state,
with the spool device 14 having a cylindrical housing 20 comprising
a housing upper part 21 and a housing lower part 22.
The housing upper part 21 has a cylindrical wall 23, with an
insertion opening and an insertion area 24 for the tether cable 13
being formed in the cylindrical wall 23 of the housing upper part
21. The insertion area 24 is in the form of a slotted recess, which
has an associated strain relief device 25 for the tether cable
13.
The housing lower part 22 likewise has a cylindrical wall 26 and a
preferably tangential extension 27 of the cylindrical wall 26, with
this tangential extension 27 forming a storage area 28 for the
second furcation adapter 15, which is not illustrated in FIG.
2.
The housing upper part 21 and the housing lower part 22 of the
housing 20 of the spool device 14 can be connected to one another
by inserting anchoring elements 29 of the housing upper part 21
into a tubular connecting section 30 on the housing lower part 22,
and by latching them therein. It should be noted that the extension
27 forming the storage area 28 does not need to be tangential. The
extension 27 can be done at any other angle from tangential up to
the line with the axis of the section 30.
FIG. 3 shows the housing lower part 22 of the spool device 14
together with a tether cable 13, the second furcation adapter 15
and individual optical fibers 16 of tether cable 13 separated by
said second furcation adapter 15. Any excess lengths of the tether
cable 13 can be wound up in the spool device 14.
Winding and unwinding of the tether cable 13 inside spool device 14
can be done by disconnecting housing upper part 21 and housing
lower part 22 and by winding or unwinding the desired length of
tether cable 13. Winding and unwinding of the tether cable 13 can
be done by keeping housing upper part 21 and housing lower part 22
connected and by holding one part 21 or 22 of spool device 14
steady in hand and by rotating the other part 22 or 21 to wind or
unwind tether cable 13.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a splice storage device 17 in
the opened state, with the splice storage device 17 having a
housing 31 comprising a housing upper part 32 and a housing lower
part 33, which are connected to one another, such that they can
pivot, via a film hinge 34. In order to close the splice storage
device 17, anchoring elements 35 on the housing upper part 32 are
inserted into connecting sections 36 in the housing lower part 33,
and are latched therein.
The splice storage device 17 has a storage section 37 for a splice
protection device 45 (see FIG. 5), in which a spliced joint between
an optical fiber 46 in the tether cable 13 and an optical fiber 47
in a drop cable 11 is placed, in which case a splice protection
device 45 such as this may, for example, be a crimp splice
protection device or a splice protection device which can be shrunk
by heat.
The storage area 37 for the splice protection device 45 is in this
case formed, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, by two webs 38 which, in
the illustrated exemplary embodiment, are formed on the housing
upper part 32 and extend in a diagonal direction between two
opposite ends 39, 40 of the housing 31 of the splice storage device
17.
An insertion area 41 for a separated optical fiber 46 of the tether
cable 13, which is surrounded by a small tube (not shown), is
formed in the area of the end 39 of the housing 31, in which case,
as shown in FIG. 4, the insertion area 41 is formed both in the
housing upper part 32 and in the housing lower part 33.
An insertion area 42 for a drop cable 11 is formed at the opposite
end 40 of the housing 31 of the splice storage device 17, in order
to insert the same into the splice storage device 17, in which
case, as shown in FIG. 4, the insertion area 42 for the drop cable
11 is formed, in the same way as the insertion area 41 for a
separated optical fiber in the tether cable 13, both in the housing
upper part 32 and in the housing lower part 33.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the insertion area 42 for a drop
cable 11 has an associated strain relief device 43 for the drop
cable 11, with the splice protection device 43 being a component of
the housing upper part 32 of the housing 31 of the splice storage
device 17.
Cylindrical guide elements 44 are adjacent to both sides of the
storage area 37, which is defined by the webs 38, for a splice
protection device 45 and form an excess-length store for excess
lengths of optical fibers 46, 47 to be spliced to one another,
specifically on the one hand an excess-length store for an optical
fiber 46 in the tether cable 13, and an excess-length store for an
optical fiber 47 in a drop cable 11. These optical fibers 46, 47
can be passed to the guide elements 44 while complying with the
minimum permissible bending radii.
Regarding the optical fibers 46 and 47, some embodiments include a
tether cable 13 and a drop cable 11 that may have various types of
optical fibers which include, but are not limited to, low bend
sensitivity optical fibers, bend optimized optical fibers, and bend
insensitive optical fibers, all of which are referred to
generically herein as "bend performance optical fiber." Use of such
bend performance optical fiber enables the optical fibers to
undergo a minimum bend radius while providing desired optical
performance. Accordingly, some embodiments comprise a spool device
14 and a splice storage device 17 that allow an optical fiber bend
radius of between about 0.0254 cm (0.01 inch) to about 2.54 cm (1.0
inch), more preferably between about 0.254 cm (0.1 inch) and 1.27
cm (0.5 inch), and still more preferably of about 0.508 cm (0.2
inch).
It should be noted that it is also possible that the insertion area
41 for a separated optical fiber in the tether cable and the
insertion area 42 for a drop cable may be both formed at the same
end of the housing upper part 32 and/or of the housing lower part
33 of the housing 31 of the splice storage device 17.
Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one
skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in
the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.
Therefore, it is to be understood that the description and claims
are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and
that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be
included within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended
that the embodiments cover the modifications and variations of the
embodiments provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents. Although specific terms are employed
herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and
not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *